Blank2Bank - Issue #1

5-minute weekly hits of business news, AI trends, tools, and career insights - by Tezons.

Your Weekly B2B is Here! 💡

Hey! 👋
Welcome to this week’s edition of Blank2Bank - your 5-minute power-up for business growth, AI breakthroughs, smart tools, and career-boosting insights. Whether you're launching a startup, scaling a side hustle, or climbing the career ladder, we’ve got something to fuel your next move. Let’s get to it! 🚀

This Week in Business & Tech 🗞️

1️⃣ Business: Walmart to Cut 1,500 Corporate Jobs Amid Cost Pressures

Walmart announced plans to eliminate approximately 1,500 corporate positions, primarily affecting its global tech and U.S. organizational teams. The move aims to streamline operations and reduce expenses in response to ongoing tariff pressures and the need for operational efficiency. While some roles are being cut, the company also plans to create new positions aligned with its growth strategy.

2️⃣ Finance: Trump Proposes Privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

President Donald Trump is considering taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public, more than 15 years after the U.S. government assumed control during the 2008 financial crisis. These two government-controlled mortgage giants are central to the American housing-finance system, backing around half of the $16 trillion mortgage market. The proposed move would significantly reshape the housing market and likely require congressional approval.

3️⃣ Marketing: Publicis Acquires Influencer Platform Captiv8 for $150M

Publicis Groupe has acquired Captiv8, an influencer marketing platform, for approximately $150 million. This acquisition is part of Publicis's broader strategy to enhance its presence in the rapidly growing influencer marketing industry. Captiv8 offers AI-driven tools to help brands manage influencer campaigns and has a global network of 15 million content creators. The deal positions Publicis to better serve brands shifting their advertising budgets from traditional media to influencer-driven digital platforms.

Tool of the Week: Notion🛠️

Notion is an all-in-one workspace designed to help individuals and teams organize their work and life seamlessly. It combines note-taking, task management, databases, calendars, and collaboration tools into a single platform. Users can create customizable pages and templates to suit personal productivity, project planning, knowledge management, or team collaboration. Whether you’re a student, freelancer, startup, or large organization, Notion adapts to your workflow with flexibility and ease. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and real-time collaboration features make it easy to share ideas, track progress, and keep everyone aligned. Perfect for managing everything from simple to-do lists to complex project roadmaps, Notion empowers users to streamline work, boost creativity, and stay organized in one unified digital workspace.

Career & Hustle Tips 💼

Become “Searchable” in Your Niche

Want more opportunities to come to you? Make yourself searchable online. Whether you're a freelancer, founder, or job-seeker, having a strong personal presence across platforms (LinkedIn, personal website, even Twitter or Medium) tied to your niche keywords can lead to unexpected DMs, job offers, or collaborations.

🔍 Tip: Google yourself. What shows up? Make sure your bio, content, and work are discoverable for the problems you solve.

This Week in AI 🤖

OpenAI and Jony Ive Unveil $6.4B AI Device Collaboration

OpenAI has acquired io, the hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a $6.4 billion deal. Ive will now lead design across OpenAI as they develop a new category of AI-powered personal devices. The prototype, described as a “context-aware companion,” aims to redefine how users interact with AI - moving beyond smartphones and wearables. The first products from this collaboration are expected in 2026.

Bonus Tools 💎

Discover 3 handpicked tools that bring extra value to your business toolkit. These bonus picks are carefully selected to help you boost productivity, streamline your workflow, and unlock new growth opportunities. Check them out and level up your game!

Webflow

Website Builder

Airtable

Database Management

Canva

Content Creation

Quote of the Week 💬

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

Henry David Thoreau

Until next time,